Police warn drivers after bison escape from Maine farm

FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Police in Maine spent Monday working to catch three escapees from a farm.

The three bison escaped from a Maine farm on Monday, causing traffic problems as police worked to corral the animals.

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The Fort Fairfield Police Department said in a news release that it received a report of three loose bison. In a post on its Facebook page, the police department said officers were working to corral the bison and had attempted to contact the animals’ owner.

The bison escaped at approximately 8:30 a.m. from a farm owned by Craig Smith, the Bangor Daily News reported.

Police warned that people should not approach the animals or get out of their vehicles if they should see them on the road.

Photos and videos posted online showed the animals walking along the road.

This is the second time bison have escaped from Smith’s farm. Last year, 10 bison broke through a fence and ran along a Presque Isle road, forcing officials to shut down the Quoggy Jo Ski Center and Nordic Heritage Center until they were caught, the Bangor Daily News Reported.

The Quoggy Jo Ski Center canceled its after-school ski program on Monday for safety reasons because the animals had not yet been captured, the Bangor Daily News reported.

The American bison is the national mammal of the United States. They are also the largest mammals in North America, with bulls weighing up to 2,000 pounds and standing 6 feet tall. The animals can also run up to 35 miles per hour, can jump fences and are strong swimmers, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.